Italian Vogue follows up "Black" issue with "African" issue

In case you've been living under a rock for the past few month, the all-black Italian Vogue issue released this past September was a smashing success. It sold-out instantly on news stands, leading Conde Nast to quickly release another 10,000 copies, which unsurprisingly, disappeared just as fast as they were rushed into stores.

Attempting duplicate that same kind of success once again and shine a light on another disturbing social phenomenon, Italian Vogue editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani will dedicate the November issue of L'Uomo Vogue -- the European style tome for men -- to Africa, with half of the advertising revenue generated from the issue being donated to Africa-related charities.

Will the 'African' issue translate into succes like the 'Black' issue?

Washington Post fashion writer Robin Givhan laments on Sozzani's foray into charity by way of high fashion: " [She] wanted to focus on people, projects and ideas. She did not want to make an aesthetic statement about Africa. So she didn't fill the magazine with images of Western models in overpriced vaguely ethnic frocks. And unlike a recent issue of India's Vogue magazine, which sparked outrage among activists and humanitarians, this one won't show peasants posing with $5,000 handbags."

Well, that's refreshing. Fashion always gets the wrap of being completely shallow and vapid, and if you've every picked up a fashion magazine, those assumptions aren't too far off from the mark. But it's always nice to see that not everyone is totally self-impressed and conceited in a world of couture gowns and fabulous parties.